UNLV at Grand Canyon | Friday, October 22 | Live Stats | ESPN+
UNLV at Air Force | Sunday, October 24 | Live Stats | WAC Digital Network
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV men's soccer team will face its toughest test of the season when it rounds out its 2021 road slate against the WAC's top-2 teams Friday at Grand Canyon and Sunday at Air Force. Kickoff against the Lopes is set for 7 p.m. PT and will be at 12 p.m.. PT/1 p.m. MT against the Falcons.
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The Rebels (6-7, 2-4) look to stay in the hunt for a top-six spot in the league PPM standings, which - due to an uneven number of matches played - is being used to determine which teams advance to the conference tournament. To do so, they will have to get past both the WAC's preseason favorite GCU (10-2, 5-1), which is receiving votes in the national polls, and reigning champion Air Force (6-5-1, 5-1) who are each coming off their first losses of league play.
Boasting one of the WAC's most aggressive attacking offenses, UNLV continues to pressure opposing backlines as it has capitalized on its top-20 national ranking in shots on goal per match (6.92) with five goals over its past three outings. However, not only are the Rebels going up against the two conference frontrunners, but the Lopes (29 goals) and Falcons (27 goals) also bring the league's respective top and second-ranked teams in goals scored into the contest.
Fans can follow the action via broadcast with an ESPN+ subscription for Saturday's game and WAC Digital Network for Sunday's match, as well as live stats on UNLVRebels.com and in-game updates provided on the team's official Twitter account @UNLVRebelSoccer.
NEWS & NOTES:
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- Senior Aedon Kyra has contributed to UNLV's recent goal scoring streak with five points during the past three games, tallying a goal and an assist in the squad's 2-1 overtime win vs. Houston Baptist at home and the squad's only goal at Utah Valley last weekend.
- Entering the week among the WAC leaders in goals and points, Kyra ranks inside the top 5 with team bests of 15 points and six goals.
- Meanwhile, senior Marco Gonzalez continues to be a catalyst for the Scarlet and Gray's attack, placing himself atop the WAC in a tie for the conference lead in assists (6) after helping on the game-winner vs. Chicago State and on Kyra's score against the Wolverines in its last outing.
- The Rebels have scored four game-winning goals in the 85th minute or later during the 2021 campaign, with the most recent coming on Gonzalez's golden goal vs. HBU in the 95th minute.
- UNLV returns defender Billy Jones and midfielder Bailey Letherman, who were both named WAC Second Team All-Conference in 2020.
- Additionally, the Scarlet and Gray welcome back WAC All-Conference honorable mention selections Claudio Gabriel and goalkeeper Miguel Duenas Jr., as well as All-Freshman Team honoree Louis Hiepen from last season.
- Head coach Rich Ryerson is in his 12th year as leader of the Rebel men's soccer program.
